The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-17
The Supreme Court Vacancy.

There have been at least dozen names
mentioned in connection with the vacant
place in the United States Supreme Court.
Among them are those Of Attorney General
Garland, of Arkansas; Gen. Lawton and
ex-Congressman Hammond, of Georgia
Hon. Randolph Tucker, of Virginia; ex-
Gov. Hoadley, of Ohio: Judge Jackson. of
Tennessee; ex-senator Mcdonald, Of Indi-
ana, and Senator George, of Mississippi
Doubtless many more will be suggested
before the vacancy is filed.
Ii it is true that the Senate Judiciary
Committee has reached tacit understand
ing that it will not report for confirmation
anyone for Supreme Justice who has passed
his Goth year the list from which a
selection must be made viii be much smaller
than that which finds its way into the news
papers. Hon. Randolph Tucker, for in
stance, would doubtless stand an excellent
chance for getting the place if he were not
so old. He is several years beyond 60,
although he is much more vigorous, men
tally and physically, than large proper
ton of the men of so.
1t is probable that the President will not
fill the vacancy before Congress meets. He
would not like to have a nominee to so inn
portant a position rejected by the Senate,
and if he waits until December he can find
out whom the Senate will confirm before he
makes nomination. 1t is not improbable
that he would like to give the place to At
torney General Garland. 1t has been I'M
derstood for long time that the Attorney
General has no higher ambition than a
place on the Supreme bench. The Presi-
dent would be very severely criticised
for appointing him, however. because of
Mr.. Garland's connection with the Pan
Electric telephone scandal While fair
minded men viii not admit that Mr.. Gar
land was guilty of anything but indiscretion
in that matter, there is, nevertheless, a feel
ing in the public mind that he did not guard
his honor as Senator with the vigilance
that he should. He was very
popular with the Senator'S however, when
he was in the Senate, and if he were nomi-
mated to the Supreme bench he would I'M
doubtedly be confirmed.
Mr.. Justice Harlan, who was appointed
from Kentucky, is at present the only
HlGlllDtl VI ulb COulJ IL dJ EDbdlb,
however, belongs almost as much to the
West as to the Sonth 1t is reasonable to
suppose that a Southern man will be APP
pointed to the vacancy There are many
eminent lawyers in the South, and the
President will have no difficulty in finding
among them one every way qualified for a
place on the Supreme bench.
The only Democrat of the Supreme Court
is Mr.. Justice Field, and it has been rumored
lately that he thinks of retiring. He is
getting well along in years, and has served
long enough to entitle him to the pension
which his position gives him.
No one of the Justices was appointed by a
Democratic President. Mr.. Justice Miller,
who has served longer than any of the other
Justices, was appointed twenty-five years
ago by President Lincoln. Four of the JUS
tees are quite old, however, and as it is
pretty certain that the next President viii
be Democrat the chances are that within
the next three or four years very nearly half
the court will be Democrats.